Bottle closure



p 2, 1941- G. H. HUTAFF, JR 2,254,682

BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed April 14, 1938 4' SheetS -Sheet 1 P 2, 1941- G. H. HUTAFF, JR 2,254,682

BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed April 14, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 1941- G. H. HUTAFF, JR 2,254,682

BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed April '14, 1938 4 SheetsSheet 3 3 ywwvfom Sept. 2, G. H. HUTAFF, JR 2,254,682

BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed April 14, 1938 4SheetsSheet 4 z zz allonwlas Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CLOSURE George H. Hutafl, Jr., Wilmington, N. 0. Application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 202,043

Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in bottle closures, in general appearance similar to the so-called crown cap type and has for its principal object the provision ofthe device of the character described which is relatively simple in construction, provides a tight seal for closing the mouth of the bottle, and may be readily removed without use of the usual form of bottle cap remover, the fingers of the user being normally sumcient for removing the closure although a knife, coin' or similar object may be used where found desirable.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a closure of the character described which includes a plurality of separately removable cap portions, the cap portions being superposed so that they may be successively removed.

Another object of the invention consists in the provision of a closure of the character described including a plurality of separately removable cap portions, at least one of the cap portions being formed to permit tearing of a portion thereof.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a closure of the character described including a. plurality of separately removable superposed cap portions, certain of the cap portions being adapted for use as a lever in removing the cap portion therebeneath.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel details of construction, and arrangement of parts, described in the following specification and illustrated in the ac companying drawings, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear to me, it will be understood that such changes may be made as will fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a plan view showing three cap portions used for forming my improved closure, two of the cap portions having circular tear-out sections.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2' looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a top plan of the completed closure with the cap portions folded into superposed position.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the closure shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section on the line of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental section showing the closure disclosed in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive applied to the mouth of a. bottle, the closure being illustrated in side elevation.

Figs. 9 to 16 inclusive positions and portions of act of being removed and bottle mouth.

Fig. 17 is a plan showing three cap portions adapted to be folded to provide a different form of my invention and in which two of the cap portions are provided with Fig. 18 is a side elevation show diagrammatically the cap portions in the after removal from the of that form. of my invention disclosed in Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a fragmental detail showing the closure formed from the cap portions shown in Figs. 17 and 18 of the drawings, applied to the bottle mouth. I

Figs. 20 to 24 inclusive show diagrammatically the positions and portions of the cap portions when being removed from the bottle mouth.

Fig. 25 is a plan illustrating three cap portions adapted to be folded to provide another form of closure, the intermediate cap portion having a circular tear-out section.

Fig. 26 is a side elevation of that form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a side elevation showing the three cap portions of Figs. 25 and 26 folded to superposed position.

Figs. 28 to 31 inclusive show diagrammatically the manner of removing the cap portions of Figs. 25 and 26.

Fig. 32 is a plan of three cap portions used for providing another form of my invention, the flange of the intermediate cap portion being formed to permit a section to be torn circumferentially therefrom.

Fig. 33 is a side elevation of that form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 32.

Figs. 34 and 35 show diagrammatically the manner of removing the cap sections of Figs. 32 and 33.

In Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive of the drawings I have a illustrated a form of my closure which is formed of three cap portions shown at l, 2 and 3 each of these cap portions being formed of a top and circuit flange, the flange of the portion I being of less height than the flanges of the portions 2 and 3, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawings and the purpose of which will be presently brought out. The cap portions I and 2 are connected by the strip 4 whereas the cap portions circular tear-out sections.

2 and 3 are connected by the strip 5. As shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings when the cap portions are initially formed the end portions will be in a reversed position to the intermediate portion 2. The cap portion 2 is formed with the cut-out which forms the tab 1, this tab I being connected to the cap by means of the strip 8 which is intended to be torn along the perforated or weakened lines 9, these perforations or weakened lines extending throughout the height of the flange of the cap portion 2 and aligning with the edges of the strip 4. The cap portion 3 is formed with the cut-out In which provides the tab ll connected to the cap by the strip l2 adapted to be torn along the weakened or perforated lines shown at I3. These perforated or weakened lines l3 extending throughout the height of the flange of. the cap 3 and aligned with the edges of the strip 5 as shown more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. To form the closure the cap portion 3 is adapted to be folded over and into the cap portion 2. The cap portion i is adapted to be folded under and receive the cap portion 2. The positions of these folded cap portions are shown more particularly in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings and it will be seen that the caps willbe superposed when applied to the mouth of the bottle, the mouth of the bottle being illustrated at I4 in Fig. 8 of the drawings. when the cap portions have been superposed, as shown, the flanges will be crimped as shown at I5 and the assembled parts will be of the shape of the well-known crown type of cap and adapted to be applied to the bottle mouth by the usual form of capping device. As is quite clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings the flange a of the cap portion l terminates above the bottom edges of the flanges of the cap portions 2 and 3.

As I have stated in the objects of my invention I desire to provide a closure which may be removed from the bottle mouth without the usual form of bottle cap remover. Very often such cap removers become misplaced and are of such a size that they cannot readily be carried in the pockets of a user. Ordinarily my improved form of closure may be removed by the fingers of the user but shouldit be found necessary a knife blade or calm-usually carried in the pockets, may

be used. When it is desired to remove that form.

of closure disclosed in Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive of the drawings the user will engage the bottom edge of the'fiange a of the cap portion 1 and raise the same into the position shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. Then with an upward pull on this cap portion, as shown more particularly in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the connecting strip 4 will tear the strip 8 along the weakened or perforated lines 9 until the cut-out 5 is reached when the tab I will beremoved as shown in Fig.

ll of the drawingsK'This'leaves the ring-like portion of the cap 2 to be'readily raised into the position shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings and then when pulling upwardly, as shown in Fig.13, the connecting strip 5 will tear the strip l2 along the weakened lines or perforations l3 until the cut-out Iii is reached and then the tab II will be removed as shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings. This leaves the ring-like portion of the cap I; which I have indicated at b, in the position shown on the bottle mouth in Fig. 15 and this ring-like portion may be sprung apart for removal from the mouth of the bottle. The removed ring-like portion is shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings.

It will thus be seen from the above that I have provided a bottle closure which may be readily applied to the mouth of the bottle and easily removed therefrom without the use of the well-known form of bottle cap remover. The cap portion i does not have any openings therein and therefore the openings Or cut-outs 6 and III of the cap portions 2 and 3 respectively are closed and no leakage is permitted therethrough. The closure may be formed of readily thin material so that when the three cap portions are superposed they need not be of greater thickness or weight than the usual form of cap now used for sealing bottle months.

In Figs. 1'1 to 24 inclusive of the drawings 1'.

have shown another form of my invention whichis quite similar to that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive in that it embodies the use of three cap portions which I have indicated at l6, l1 and II, the cap portion i6 being connected to the cap portion I! by means of the strip l9 whereas the cap portion I1 is connected to the cap portion ll by means of the strip 20. Each of the cap portions includes a top and circumferential flange, the flange of the cap portion l8 being of less height than the flanges of the cap portions i6 and H as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 18 of the drawings. The cap portion 16 is provided with the cut-out 22 which forms a tab 23 connected to the cap by means of the strip 24, this strip 24 being adapted to be torn along the weakened lines or perforated lines 25, the lines extending over the top of the cap portion and throughout the height of the flange, as shown more particularly in Fig. 17 of the drawings. The perforated or weakened lines 25 align with the side edges of the strip 18 and also aligning with the edges of the strip l9 are the perforations or weakened lines 25 formed in the cap portion I1 and which extend throughout the height of the flange of this cap portion and over the top surface thereof to the cut-out portion 2'! which forms the tab 28. The cap portion I8. is adapted to be folded over and into the cap portion l1 whereas the cap portion ii is adapted to be folded under and over the cap portion I1. when thus-folded the cap portions provide a closure of the well-known crown cap type and the closure is adapted to be placed on the bottle mouth 29 by use of a wellknown form of capping device. It will be seen that the cap portion It provides a seal for the cut-outs 22 and 21 formed in the cap portions 16 and I1 respectively.

When it is desired to remove this form of cap, just described, from thebottle mouth 29 the user engages his nails or a knife blade or coin or .the like beneath the tab 23 of the cap portion It and then raises the same, as shown more particularly in Fig. 20 of the drawings. By pulling upwardly and downwardly on the tab the strip 24 is torn along the weakened or perforated lines I 25 and thereby forms simply a ring-like portion which may be readily removed from the cap portion I1; Then by using the tab portion 23, as a lever, and pulling upwardly thereon, as shown more particularly in Fig. 21 of the drawings, the strip is is torn along the perforated or weakenedlines 25 and removes the tab 28 from the cap portion H, as shown more particularly in Fig. 22 of the drawings. Then the ring-like portion of the cap l1 formed by the removal of the tab or strip [9 may be used as a lever for removing the cap portion l8 as shown more particularly in Fig. 24 of the drawings.

In Figs. 25 to 31 inclusive 1 have shown another form of my invention in which three cap portions are provided to form the complete closure, these cap portions being'illustrated at I09, H and II I. As is shown quite clearly in Fig. 26 of the drawings the flanges H2 and H3 of the cap portions I09 and III respectively are of less width than the flange ill of the cap portion H0. The cap portion I09 is connected to the cap portion IIO by means of the strip I I5 whereas the cap portion H0 is connected to the cap portion II I by means of the strip H6. The cap portion H0 is provided in its top with the cut-out tab II I connected by the strip III! which is adapted to be torn along the weakened or perforated lines II9 extending across a portion of the top of the cap and downwardly through the flange IIl thereof and in alignment with the edges of the connecting strip H5 as is quite clearly illustrated in Fig. of the drawings. In forming the closure the cap portion I09 is folded beneath the cap portion IIO when in the position shown in Fig. 26 and the cap portion III is folded over and into the cap portion IIO. When thus superposed the caps may be positioned on the bottle mouth by the usual form of capping mechanism. The assembly of the caps is shown in Fig. 27. When it is desired to remove the closure from the bottle mouth the edge of the cap portion I09 is engaged and the cap bent upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 28 of the drawlngs. up on the strip H5 and this tears the strip I I8 from the cap IIO, as shown more particularly in Fig; 29 of the drawings and removes the tab III, as shown more particularly in Fig. 30 of the drawings. Then the ring-like .or flange portion II4 of the cap H0 is raised into the position shown in Fig. 31 of the drawings and is used as a lever for removing the cap portion III from the bottle mouth.

In Figs. 32 to inclusive of the drawings I have shown a still further form of my device in which, as in Figs. 25 to 31 inclusive, the closure is formed from three cap portions, these cap portions being illustrated at I20, I2I and I22, the flange portions I23 and I24 of the caps I20 and I22 respectively being of less width or height than the flange I25 of the cap I2I. The cap I20 is connected to the cap I2I by means of the strip I26 and the cap I M is connected to the cap I22 by means of the-strip I26. The flange I25 of the cap I2I is provided with a weakened or perforated line I21 which extends circumferentially of the flange for a portion thereof with one end of the line terminating adjacent an edge of the connecting strip I26 as shown more particularly in Fig. 32 of the drawings. The complete closure is formed by folding theicap I20 under the cap I2I when in the position shown in Fig. 33 and the cap I 22 over and into he cap I2I. The flanges I23 and I24 of the cap portions I 00 and I22 respectively will overlie the perforated line I21 and prevent leakage therethrough. The superposed cap portions, as a unit, will be applied to the bottle mouth by the usual form of capping device.

When it is desired to remove the form of closure shown in Figs. 32 to 35 inclusive the cap I20 will be raised and by pulling thereon a portion of the flange I25, of the cap portion I2I, will be torn and removed as shown in Fig. 34 of the drawings. The cap I2I will then be engaged and by pulling thereon the cap I22 may be pulled from,

the bottle mouth.

I wish it understood that in order to provide The cap is then used as a lever to pulla tight seal at the bottle mouth the innermost cap of each of the forms of closure illustrated will be provided with the usual form of cork or other disc. It will also be understood that in each form of the closure the flanges of the cap portions will be crimped although in some of the views this is not shown for the sake of clearness.

objects of the invention, I have provided a bottle closure which includes a plurality of separately removable cap portions, the cap portions being superposed and in each instance or each form of the invention at least one of the cap portions being formed to permit tearing of a portion thereof. While I have illustrated several difl'erent forms of the invention the principle is the same in each instance and each form is such that it may be removed from a bottle mouth without the use of the ordinary form of bottle cap remover. It can be appreciated that at times the usual form of bottle cap remover is not available for various reasons and while the several forms of my closure may be removed by the fingers of the user if found desirable a knife blade, coin, or the like may be used. Such are ordinarily found in the pocket of a user or one desiring to open a bottle.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and .desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. A closure for bottles or the like including top, bottom and intermediate cap portions telescoped one within the other, means connecting the top cap portion with the intermediate cap portion and the intermediate cap portion with the bottom cap portion, the top cap portion being adapted for use as a lever for tearing a part of the intermediate cap portion to remove the same from the bottle and the remaining part of the intermediate cap portion being adapted for use as a lever for tearing away a part of the bottom tclap portion for removing the same from the bot- 2. A closure for bottles or the like including top, bottom and intermediate cap portions telescoped one within the other, the intermediate and bottom cap portions being formed with tearout parts, means connecting the top cap portion with the intermediate cap portion and the intermediate cap portion with the bottom cap portion, the top cap portion being adapted for used as a lever for removing the tear-out part of the intermediate cap portion to remove the same from the bottle and the remaining part of the intermediate cap portion being adapted for use as a lever for removing the tear-out part of the bottom cap portion for removing the same from the bottle.

3. A closure for bottles or the like including top, bottom and intermediate cap portions telescoped one within the other, the top and intermediate cap portions being formed with tear-out parts, and means connecting the top cap. portion with the intermediate cap portion and the intermediate cap portion with the bottom cap portion, the tear-out part of the top cap portion being adapted for removal to remove the top cap portion from the bottle and to act as a lever for removing the tear-out part of the intermediate cap portion to remove that cap portion from the bottle, the intermediate cap portop, bottom and intermediate cap portions teletion remaining after the tear -out part is removed scoped one within the other, means connecting being used as a lever for removing the bottom the top cap portion with the intermediate cap cap portion iromthebottle. 1 portion and the intermediate cap portion with 4. A closure !or bottles or the like including 5 the bottom cap portion, the intermediate cap top, bottom and intermediate cap portions teleportion being formed with a weakened or perscoped one within the other, means connecting iorated line in its depending flange, the flange the top cap portion with the intermediate cap or the intermediate cap portion being adapted portion and the intermediate cap portion with to be torn along its weakened or perforated line the bottom cap portion, the intermediate cap 10 by removal or the top capportion and using the portion having a tear-out part adapted to be same as a lever, the torn flange permitting t removed by using the top cap portion as a, lever, removal of the intermediate cap portion, and the and the remaining part or the intermediate cap r m v d i r at cap portion being used portion being adapted for use as a lever in reas a v r r removing the bottom n p r on moving the bottom cap portion. 1r

5. A closure for bottles or the iikedncluding J GEORGE 

